Perfect Game Presents

2014 MLB Draft Rankings: Nos. 1-100

Please note that the players are ranked on the basis of raw talent, with minor consideration given to any signability issues—or, in more cases, possible injuries—that might impact a player’s standing in the draft.

Does perceived proximity to the majors comes into play? For instance a pitcher with #4 upside that can be pitching in the show next year might be more valuable than a pitcher with a #2 ceiling that would be 4 years away.

In addition to Beede, the Jays drafted a bunch of other guys in 2011 who are listed in the top 70. Did they have a shot at signing any of them, or were they total long shots?

It suggests a) their scouts had a great year identifying talent b) the scouts and front office did a poor job of assessing signability and/or c) they were signing guys the 'knew' were unlikely to sign, but hoped to get a break.

or... e) filling slots with long shots to allow allocation of cap funds to be spent on more serious picks while still having some opportunity on signing the long shot player to a more financially advantageous contract one year earlier. If we look at players who eventually sign and were drafted once or more times prior to signing, I tend to recall that the eventual signing club is not usually one of the previous "feeler" signing organizations.